Browsing: Virus

A Virus is a microscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the cells of living organisms. Viruses consist of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, enclosed in a protein coat called a capsid. Some viruses also have an outer lipid envelope. Viruses are not considered living organisms because they cannot carry out metabolic processes or reproduce independently outside a host cell. Instead, they hijack the cellular machinery of their host to replicate and produce new virus particles. Viruses can infect a wide range of organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and archaea. They are responsible for causing a variety of diseases in humans, animals, and plants, ranging from mild infections such as the common cold to severe illnesses such as COVID-19, AIDS, and Ebola. Viruses can spread through various means, including respiratory droplets, bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, or insect vectors. Understanding viruses and their mechanisms of infection is crucial for developing treatments, vaccines, and public health strategies to prevent and control viral diseases.